From a one-man band to to an accomplished group of performers, The Almost has come a long way since the release of their first album Southern Weather in 2007. Their latest CD, Monster Monster was released Nov. 3.
Since I am a fan of front-man Aaron Gillespie, I was expecting a sound similar to his other band, Underoath. After listening to Monster Monster in its entirety and discovering it contained no screaming, I was definitely surprised. After accepting the lack of screaming I was able to appreciate the album for what it did offer: an impressive collection of songs showcasing Gillespie’s musical abilities.
The album starts on a high note with the upbeat title track, “Monster Monster.” The song has a catchy chorus and a message applicable to anyone struggling with self-improvements. The lyrics “Sick of drinking poison/ sick of worrying/ sick of telling lies/ I’m sick of this monster monster/ you’ve gotta get here/” tell a story of someone struggling to overcome their sinful nature.
This song best illustrates the overall message of the album. Monster Monster is a concept album based on the idea that everyone has a monster in their chest they must fight to get rid of. On The Almost’s Web site, Gillespie says he never intended to write a concept album.
“It didn’t start out as a concept album, but by accident, I think it became one,” Gillespie said. “It’s about the ‘monster’ that lives inside of all of us, which we have to fight to get rid of. It’s a battle you live with every day. In the end, when that stops, the question remains, can you now life your life? Can you get all of who you are, can you find a place that makes you happy?”
Because most of the songs on the album are fairly alternative, the track “Hand Grenade” is definitely out of place. Rather than being slightly “angsty” with a rock feel, “Hand Grenade”‘s twang, complete with acoustic guitar, seems better suited for a Rascal Flatts album. Despite its inconsistency, the song quickly became one of my favorites on the album.
Another song that stands out form the rest is “Souls On Ten.” It lacks a certain depth that most of the other songs had, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The song has a very light sound that reminds me of an the old Relient K songs. The lyrics, “you and me with our souls on ten/ it’s just you and me again/ our luck is the way we feel/ it’s just you and me tonight,” are a nice contrast to some of the heavier songs on the album.
With no dull songs, Monster Monster is in my opinion a very successful album. While it does lack a certain cohesiveness, I enjoy all the songs.
Because some of the songs on the project are slightly generic, they didn’t command my attention the way my favorite bands do. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy listening to this album. However, I won’t be adding it to my list of favorites anytime soon.
